Contrary to the article 'Don't they count? - Census skips Palm Island's 3000 residents' in today’s Townsville Bulletin, Palm Island has not been 'snubbed' by the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) in this years Census.'Palm Island and other areas in the Cape region will be counted in the coming weeks', said the Queensland Census Director, Tony Webb.

A key aspect to the ABS's Indigenous Collection strategy is the recognition that people living in remote and traditional settings require different approaches to those used when counting urban Indigenous populations.

The remote community strategy takes part over 6-8 weeks with communities being counted in the weeks before and after Census Night, rather than on Census Night.

The strategy involves a Collector interviewing the people in each dwelling to gather the Census information. Forms are not delivered to households as they are in other parts of the country.

The Queensland Indigenous count started in late July and is expected to be completed in early September. Some communities were counted in the weeks before Census Night and some will be counted after.

'The Census will come to Palm Island next week,” said Mr Webb.

'The ABS has been actively working with the Palm Island Community, including the local ICC, to ensure a good Census count.

'Training of local Palm Island residents as collectors is scheduled to begin next week with the actual count taking place in mid August.

'It is disappointing that the Townsville Bulletin did not even bother to approach the ABS for clarification on this matter before going to print', said Mr Webb.